Good sports!

Author: PhysioSA communications and marketing team 29 June 2018 Tags:

Good sports!

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018

“As the Chief Physio it was encouraging to notice the commitment of the physiotherapists throughout the games while working awkward and long hours, without even a single complaint of being overworked and tired.”

Physiotherapists are behind the scenes at many sporting events around the country, developing calluses on their knees as they strap professional sport teams, rub aching legs along the long, long Comrades Marathon route, and work with young rugby or netball school teams to improve their style of play and avoid injury.

“Physiotherapists with a special interest in sport have highly honed skills which enable them to be significantly useful support staff for early-stage athletes,” says Elaine Burger, chair of the SASP Sports Physiotherapy Group. “And they really do give their all to the teams and the athletes.”

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018

“Para Table Tennis is a very fast-paced, high-intensity sport, and I got to be the physio and proud supporter.”

This year the Para sport programme (for athletes with disabilities) was integrated into the Games programme – South Africa’s para athlete Jonathan Ntutu stood on the same podium to receive his gold medal as Castor Semenya had done for her blistering middle distance performance.

“Physiotherapists who have a special interest in sports physiotherapy and have studied further in this field often have a special place in their hearts for para sport, as we work closely with these athletes and see their challenges and triumphs up close,” says Elaine Burger, chair of the SASP Sports Physiotherapy Group. “It was great to see the para programme as a seamless part of the overall Games.”

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018

“The teamwork between the doctors and other physios was very effective.”

Most professional teams and high-calibre athletes rely on medical teams for support. At this year’s Commonwealth Games, Team South Africa consisted of 194 athletes competing in 16 sporting codes; the medical team consisted of five medical doctors and 10 physiotherapists, all of whom have studied sports physiotherapy extensively.

“Physiotherapists with a special interest and further training in sports physiotherapy are crucial to injury recovery,” says Elaine Burger, chair of the SASP Sports Physiotherapy Group. “With specially honed techniques at our command, and working in a multi-disciplinary team, we are able to rehabilitate an athlete much faster.”

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018

“I had to rely on body language or peek at their facial expressions to determine just how much pain they were in. What a stoic team!”

The Commonwealth Games held in Australia in April this year was the first multi-sport international event to feature an equal number of events for male and female athletes.

“The Women’s Rugby Sevens team Corinne treated were very tough. Physiotherapists who have taken a special interest in treating athletes have to be able to make rapid assessments of the real extent of pain or injuries,” says Elaine Burger, chair of the SASP Sports Physiotherapy Group. “They attend courses and workshops every year to improve their skills and understanding of athletes’ bodies – whether that’s a weekend warrior out for his weekly run or a top-flight gymnast heading for gold.”

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018

“Athlete injury management centres on the joint decision-making between doctors, physios, coaches and the athlete, with the well-being of the athlete being the first priority.”

The physiotherapist with a special interest in sport is focused on using all the skills gained from years of post-graduate study to enhance the performance of the athlete – whether that’s someone who’s just joined a club and is hoping to become a halfway decent marathon runner someday, or an ultra-elite athlete whose name will go down in the record books.

“No matter what level you’re at, you’ll discover that a physiotherapist with a special interest in sports is best equipped to tailor-make an exercise prescription for you, or put together a rehabilitation programme should you be injured,” says Elaine Burger, chair of the SASP Sports Physiotherapy Group.